In Another Life

Chapter 1

How Two Little Kids Met.

Third Person's POV.

2008, January 03.

As the cold wind blows outside on a sunny day, a pretty little girl is celebrating her 6th birthday inside this mansion where all her guest is looking at her with a smile on their faces while singing her a happy birthday.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you!"

"Make a wish, baby!" her mom excitedly said.

She closed her sparkling eyes and whispered.

Please, please, please, give me the ability to fly!

A breath escaped her mouth as she blows her cake's candles.

Habang nagce-celebrate ang mga tao sa loob ng malaking bahay ay may isang batang lalaki na naglalaro sa labas. Si David Cole Agustin. Bagong lipat lamang sila sa villge na ito.

Naririnig niya ang ingay ng mga bata na naglalaro sa loob ng malaking bahay.

Sana mayaman na lang din kami. Bulong niya sa kanyang sarili.

Patuloy lang siya sa kanyang paglalaro ng buhangin ng biglang lumapit ang isang batang babae.

"Hi! Do you want to play barbie?"

Napatingala si Cole ng nakakunot-noo. Tumayo siya at hinarap ang babaeng mas maliit sakanya na mukhang prinsesa sa kanyang kasuotan. She is wearing a pink gown with matching shoes and purse. Her tiara shines as the sun hits its jewels.

"Huh?" Tinitigan lamang ni Cole ang batang babae. "Anong sinasabi mo? Barbie? Hindi ako bakla!"

"What are you saying? There are boy barbies naman!" Sabi ng babae.

Ano bang pinagsasabi nito?! Hindi ko maintindihan! Bulong muli ni Cole sakanyang sarili.

"I'm Natalia! Lia for short!" inalok ng babae ang kamay niya pero tinitigan lamang iyon ni Cole. He could barely understand english because he's from a province.

"Ahh! Nagpapakilala ka pala! Ako si Enricole pero Coco na lang, " kinamayan niya si Lia.

"So, tara? Laro tayong barbie?" tanong muli ni Lia. She tried to speak tagalog while having this non-fluent accent. You can tell that she's raised by wealthy people judging the way she looks and speaks.

"Ayaw ko! Ikaw na lang maglaro!" sigaw ni Coco sakanya atsaka tumalikod at nagpatuloy sa nilalaro nito.

"Fine! Don't come to my party!" Natalia about-faced while her brows almost met at the bridge of her nose.

"Sandali!" sigaw ni Coco.

"What?!" iritadong humarap si Lia at napatigil sa paglalakad habang hawak ang kanyang mga laruang manika.

"Ikaw 'yung may birthday? Taga diyan ka sa malaking bahay?" lumapit muli si Coco kay Lia.

"Yes, why?" she crossed her hands over her chest and lifted up her face.

"Happy birthday!" he greeted.

"You want to come into my house?" Lia asked.

"Anong sinasabi mo?" sabi ni Cole dahil hindi niya naiintindihan ang sinasabi ng bata.

"Ugh! Gusto mo ba to go, uh, inside sa bahay namin?" she struggled as she speaks.

Makakapasok na ako sa pang mayaman na bahay! He thought. Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Coco dahil sa pagimbita niya.

"Play barbie with me first!"

"Ayoko nga!"

Ayoko talaga maglaro ng barbie! Pero gusto ko pumasok sa malaking bahay! Lumungkot ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha.

"I'm just kidding! Let's go!" she held Cole's arm and fled to the front door of their house. As they went inside, Cole was extremely quiet while observing the place.

Ang laki!

Natalia's place is huge. The walls are painted gray and white that matches its furniture. Everything including the rugs and frames looks expensive.

"Mom! This is my new friend! He wants to attend my party!" she excitingly said in front of her mom, still holding the hands of Cole.

"Baby, he's dirty. Why are you holding his hand?" her mom looks disgusted.

"Oh, he's playing outside, that's why. We'll wash up!"

Ano bang sinasabi nila? bulong ni Cole sakanyang sarili. Bigla bigla na lamang siyang hinila ni Lia sa isang malaking banyo.

"Banyo 'to?" tanong ni Cole sakanya habang namamangha pa rin sa nakikita.

"Of course! Wala ba kayong restroom?" she asked.

"Meron! Pero hindi ganito! Mas malaki pa banyo niyo sa bahay namin."

"Whatever! Let's go!"

"Malapit na birthday ko! Punta ka din, ha!"

"Sure! When?"

"May 4!"

"Matagal pa, e!"

.

2008, May 04

"Dali!"

"Wait!"

"Bilisan mo, naghihintay si nanay!" sigaw ni Cole kay Lia.

Naglakad sila papunta sa loob ng isang bahay, ang tahanan ni Cole.

"Nay?" sigaw niya pa.

"You know what, maybe I should just go home," sabi naman ni Lia.

"Ano? Pwede ba, hindi mo pa ako tinuturuan niyang salita mo kaya 'wag mo muna akong kausapin ng ganyan!"

Umirap lamang si Lia.

"Anak! Happy birthday!"

"Salamat nay! Ito nga po pala si Lia, taga 'doon siya sa malaking bahay."

"Naku! Wala pa naman tayong handa, ayos lang ba sayo ang pancit lang 'nak?" sabi ng nanay ni Cole.

"Sure po, hindi naman po ako maarte," nahihiyang sabi naman ni Lia.

Nginitian lang ito ni Cole at niyaya niya na ito papuntang kusina.

Malaki man ang bahay na tinitirahan nila Cole at ng kanyang nanay, maliit lamang ang kwarto nila dahil ang nanay niya ay isang kasambahay sa tinutuluyan nilang mansyon.

"Dito na kayo! Kain na!"

"Tara!"

Kinantahan nila si Cole at nagsimulang kumain.

_______________________________________

This chapter is to be revised soon.

☾